Torpedo.



PATENTED DEG. 15, 1903'.

A. F. HUMPHREY.

TOBPEDO.

APPLICATION FILED APR. so, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

No. re ress.

e v f NEiTED oil irons Patented December 15, 1903.

Purser-r crime,

.ALEXANDER F. HUMPHREY, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

SEECZFIQATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 747,323, dated. December 15, 1903.

Application filed April 30, 1903.

To (LZZ whom it may concern.-

Be is known that l', ALEXANDER- F. HUM- PHREY, a citizen of the United Scenes of. Americe, residing at Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvanie, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Torpedoes, of which she following is a soecificetion, reference being bed therein to te accompanying drawings.

This inveniion. relates to certain new and useful improvements torpedoes, and has for its object the construction of a. torpedo which may be conveniently suspended from a suitable suspending device and moved through tube weier on a substantially bori-.

zont-el line in order tobe guided into engagement with the object; which it is desired to destroy.

A fort-her object of my invention resides in the construction of a torpedo whereby effective results may be obtained when on expiosiou oecu rs.

the torpedo through the water.

In describing the invention in deteil reference is bad to the accompanying drawings, forminge part of ihisspeoifioetiomnnd wherein like numerals of reference indicate like parnsthrougliout the several views,in Which- Figure 1 is a. central longitudinal sectional view of my improved torpedo, showing the suspending-cables aitsched thereto. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the torpedo with the firing-pin-pronecning cop removed. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 4.- is a longitudinal sectional view of the heedrof the torpedo, showing the firing apparatus and a, part of she fuse. v

The torpedo forming bhe subject of this application is particularly adapted to be used in connection with the form of suspending device such as shown in my application filed Serial No. 155.032. l lo modal.)

February 2, 1903, Serial No. 141,473. The torpedo in volves a, shell or'cosing 1,counected by threading, as all 2, or other suitable means to the head 3. Attached to the rear end of the. torpedo shell or body is a neilpiece 4, which may be deteohebly connected thereto, as shown at 5, or may be made as an integral pert of the shell or body 1. In this tailpiece 4 is swiveled the'ruddorfi, and on the sides of the tailpiece are rudders 7, the rear face of which is on a. substantially horizontal line with the shell or body and the forword face of which is at an angle to the axial line of said shell or body, endou the sides of the shell or body 1, beer the forward end thereof,

are rudders .8, which are given a. reverse in* cline Lo rho forward end of the rudders 7, The ruddersere inclined in this manner whereby to enable the torpedo to be drawn weakened, whereby not to offer too great re,

sismnce to the explosive agent contained by the shell, I preferably provide this head with interior annular grooves 9', into which the explosive agent engages, as seen in Fig. 1. The hood 3 has therein a. centrally-arranged exte- "rior threaded sleeve 10, in .the inner end of by means of e. percussion-cap 12, exploded byv means of a firing-pin 14, extending through the plug 15, threaded in the outer end of the sleeve 10, and which firing-pin is held normall y out of engagement: with the percussion cap-12 133 gneans of a spring 16, arranged on the firing-pin benween the collar 17, mounted on said pin, and theannulauzollnr or flange 18, carried by the plug 10. Where the explosive agent, is powder or the like and e fuse is employed, I dispense with the explosive cap 19 on the inner end of the fuse. If guncouaon, dynamite, or the like is used as an explosive agent, the some may be exploded through the medium of the percussion-cop -ries on its upper face eyes 22, to which are attached cables 23 24, both connected at their upper ends to a common ring 25, which is .also attached to the cable 26, said. cable 26 being connected to a suitable suspending device. (Not shown.) By the manner of supporting the torpedo whereby to maintain the same in a snbstanially horizontal plan While drawing it through the wateigihe same may be brought head on into engagement with the object to bedestroyed, as will be apparent.

It Will'be noted that various slight changes may be made in'the details of construction without departing from the general spirit oi": my invention.

Having fully described myinvention, What Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1 111a torpedo a shell formed. of two interlocking sections, one of said sections being formed on its interior with an annular groove, said groove extending to near the outer surface of the said section substantially as and for the purpose specified. v

2. A torpedo comprising a shell having its forward. ends internally screw-threaded and a head formed with exterior threads engaging the threads of said shell, and having its interior formed with a groove, forming a recess in said section extending adgacent the outer surface of the same anda means mounted. in

said head communicating With the interior of-said shell, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a torpedo, the combination of a shell comprising two interlocking portions, one of said portions having a groove formed in the interior tl'iereof,-tl1e inner wall of the groove being near the outer surface of said portion, and an exteriorly-threaded sleeve mounted therein, and means engaging the threads of said sleeve communicating with the interior of the shell to explode the torpedo, snbstam tially as described.

4. A torpedo comprising a shell formed 02 two interlocking portions, one of said sections having a portion thereof cut away leaving a reduced portion between the outer surface and the interior of the shell, an esteriorly and interim-1y threaded sleeve carried in said last-named section, a tube mounted in salt? sleeve, and means communicating with the interior of the torpedo for firing the same,

substantially described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

ALEXAH Fl HUMPHREY. Witnesses:

H. G. Evans", A. M. WiLsoN. 

